The 2015-16 Myanmar Demographic and Health Survey (2015-16 MDHS) is the first DHS survey to be conducted in Myanmar. A nationally representative sample of about 13,260 households was selected. All women age 15-49 who were usual residents of the selected households or who slept in the households the night before the survey were eligible for the survey. Apart from the women’s survey, a men’s survey was also conducted at the same time in a subsample consisting of one household in every second household selected for the female survey. All men age 15-49 who were usual residents of the selected households or who slept in the households the night before the survey were eligible for the male survey. In all of the selected households, parents or guardians of children age 6-59 months asked permission to collect a blood sample through a finger prick, also used to test for anemia. These children were also weighed and measured to obtain anthropometric indicators. Anemia testing and anthropometric measurements were also obtained for women age 15-49 in the sample households. The primary objective of the 2015-16 MDHS was to provide up-to-date estimates of basic demographic and health indicators. Specifically, the survey collected information on fertility levels, marital status, fertility preferences, awareness and use of family planning methods, breastfeeding practices, nutrition, mother and child mortality and health, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other health-related issues, such as smoking and knowledge of tuberculosis. The information collected through the 2015-16 MDHS is intended to assist policy makers and program managers in evaluating and designing programs and strategies for improving the health of the country’s population. Moreover, this survey has come at a beneficial time for Myanmar, as the results will be used to develop the next 5-year National Health Plan (2017-2021) and to update the national comprehensive development plan.
